“Father. Mother.” Ken Leafblade burnt incense over his parents’ graves. The tombstones were a thick stone, their names etched on the stone by a blade, as was their tradition.
“It’s been a year since your deaths, and this son has been unfilial. I have been unable to contain the fallout from your deaths, but I promise you, now that I am turning into a man, I will bring great honour to our family!” Ken declared it loudly, like he wanted the entire world to hear him.
Their family, Leaf, had once been the greatest family in the entire region. Their status was once linked with alchemy, but soon the descendants turned to the blade and no longer practised alchemy.
They had once ruled the region, but decided to share their power with other families in order to defend their homes from the savage beast hordes which came once a decade. They changed their name from Leaf to Leafblade, to signify their commitment in defending their town from the hordes.
Last year was such, and his parents and Elders of the family had lost their lives to the beast horde. They had gone ahead in order to lessen the blow of the beast horde, which had been far more vicious then the last time, but they did not return.
Since then, the Leafblades experienced a great decline. Many quit, taking with them more than was due. His cousins had gone into hiding, begging him to leave with them, but Ken refused.
He had very little money, but if he was frugal and managed to cultivate diligently, he could return the family to its former glory.
“I will definitely bring back the name of our blessed family! Even if I must have a hundred children to make sure our line continues!” His cheeks burned red with embarrassment, but this was what he, the Young Patriarch of the family, needed to do.
Since it had come to this, he needed to at least spend some money on sincerity. After all, he still had that to do.
He dressed in his finest clothing. White, with a green hem and gold embroidery, and carried at his side his ancestral sword. It was long and thin, with the handle made of a foreign wood none could identify.
He bought a horse, a powerful and muscular horse, one befitting of a Young Patriarch of his family, and then rode towards the Town Lord’s estate. He trot along, like a prince on his trusty steed.
He rode up towards the gates of the estate, which was magnificent. It was the largest building within the town, and that was by law. The Lord of the towns and cities always had the largest building, and this one was five floors tall. The number of floors equalled the number of great families, including the Town Lord’s own family.
Leafblade. Silverhawk. Blackfist. Terraheart. Thunderlion.
These were the four great families, and the Town Lord’s family, which rules over the town and the nearby villages.
There were two statues of thunder lions which flanked the gate on either side, owing to the name sake of the family.
“Stop!” One of the statues began to shift and move, animating to life as it grew tall. They were the guardians of the Town Lord’s estate, each quite powerful. “Declare your intent!”
Ken hopped off his horse and then placed his palm over his fist, bowing respectfully. “My name is Ken, son of the Leafblade family. I have come to speak with the esteemed Town Lord, Fang Thunderlion, about the marriage proposal between myself and the Young Miss, Zarina Thunderlion.”
“This matter is unrecognised!”
“What?” Ken gasped. How could this be? “What do you mean? It’s no secret that we are promised to one another. Everyone in this town knows this. Allow me to speak with the Town Lord of this matter, there must be some kind of mistake!”
“There is no mistake. Zarina Thunderlion is to marry Abadon Terraheart. This has been set in stone for one year.”
[One year? Impossible!] Such a thing couldn’t have happened, since that was when his parents had died. How could the Town Lord have changed it then?
“There must be a mistake! I need to speak with the Town Lord!” His brow was covered in sweat. This was the first step in bringing back his family from ruin.
The Town Lord and his father had been the best of friends. One could have easily described them as brothers. Their families were so close that he often called the Town Lord his uncle in private, and when he was being a little cheeky, father.
How could Zarina marry Abadon? Abadon was a vicious beast, not worthy of even her presence. She was a fine jewel, and Abadon was a broken claw, an ill omen.
“How could she be betrothed to such a vile beast after what he did to Jana…” Ken muttered to himself. Jana had been a beautiful girl from the family of one of the Terraheart’s minor families, and Abadon had raped her and then hung her at their gates after she refused him politely.
“Who dares cause issues in front of the Town Lord’s estate?” It was a familiar voice which boomed, one which brought Ken comfort, though it was quite intimidating at the moment.
“This junior greets the Town Lord!” Ken called out, his hand over his palm again as he bowed.
The Town Lord appeared, dressed in his typical black robes, walking gracefully with his hands behind his back. The Town Lord was a gentleman among gentlemen. He had the dark blue hair of the Thunderlion family, though his brows were thick and flowed up angrily.
“Ah, it’s you.” The Town Lord raised a hand and his thunder lion statue fell back into place, still as though it was dead.
“Town Lord! I’ve come for the agreement, which the esteemed Town Lord has made with this one’s father.” He bowed once again. “In one week I am to turn eighteen, and we should join our families soon after.”
“…” The Town Lord looked at Ken sadly, sighing a heavy breath. All he could see was a young, naive little boy, one who had yet to be weaned from his mother’s teat.
[What a fool your son is, old friend.]
“Town Lord?”
“As much as I loved your father, like he was my own brother, I hope you understand.” Town Lord Fang Thunderlion shook his head. “Zarina will be unable to marry you.”
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
[What?]
Ken remained standing there, frozen like one of the Town Lord’s statues. He hadn’t expected to hear such a thing today. He had set out with complete faith that the Town Lord, the most noblest of men, would keep his word.
“Of course, such a matter is of great importance between our families.” The Town Lord spoke in an empathetic tone, understanding that the young boy would feel so terrible after hearing what he had said.
“I will compensate you for this matter.” He walked over and placed a hand on Ken’s shoulder. “I know it must be difficult for you, after all that’s happened.”
“Town Lord, you…” Ken was speechless, unable to even form words. He watched as the Town Lord walked away, back to his gate. How could he have done this. “You made a promise with my father. We… we grew up together. You were like an uncle to me, a second father even.”
“I understand that this must be difficult for you to hear, but you must understand that I am Zarina’s father. Your family is ruined. Your future is uncertain. What kind of father would I be if I allowed my daughter to marry you?”
Ken clenched his fists together, feeling the betrayal running through his veins. How could the Town Lord, such a man of great character, go back on his word like that?
“Zarina and I love one another! I promise to take good care of her as my wife! What is there beyond that?” Ken grit his teeth, keeping his tears at bay.
“You cannot accurately gauge your future. What are the Leafblades today? What are the Leafblades tomorrow?” Fang shook his head. “I will send you your compensation within the month.”
“Compensation? Zarina has no price! I ask that you behave nobly and honour the engagement of my now deceased father!” Ken pointed at him with an accusing finger. He still couldn’t believe what was happening.
The Town Lord glared back over his shoulder. “Enough! I ask that you give me face, Young Master. Leave at once whilst I am still polite!” The Town Lord’s voice boomed, and soon people began to notice.
“Shameful!” Ken exclaimed, feeling his gut wrench. How could the Town Lord just abandon him in his direst hour? “I will speak with Zarina about this matter!”
“Someone’s calling for you, my dear Zarina. Who could it be?” It was a familiarly sickening voice.
[That voice! It can’t be!]
Two people stepped out into view. One was the beautiful Zarina, a bright star which illuminated Ken’s life. She was a short woman, thin, and slightly tan from a healthy amount of sun. Her long hair was blue and silver, like thunder, and straight, falling down to her lower back.
Besides her was a vicious beast. A lean man with short, wild brown hair, brown eyes, and a savagely wide grin on his face. His arm was around Zarina’s waist possessively.
“Abadon!”
TW: Next chapter has NTR.
“Father. Mother.” Ken Leafblade burnt incense over his parents’ graves. The tombstones were a thick stone, their names etched on the stone by a blade, as was their tradition.
“It’s been a year since your deaths, and this son has been unfilial. I have been unable to contain the fallout from your deaths, but I promise you, now that I am turning into a man, I will bring great honour to our family!” Ken declared it loudly, like he wanted the entire world to hear him.
Their family, Leaf, had once been the greatest family in the entire region. Their status was once linked with alchemy, but soon the descendants turned to the blade and no longer practised alchemy.
They had once ruled the region, but decided to share their power with other families in order to defend their homes from the savage beast hordes which came once a decade. They changed their name from Leaf to Leafblade, to signify their commitment in defending their town from the hordes.
Last year was such, and his parents and Elders of the family had lost their lives to the beast horde. They had gone ahead in order to lessen the blow of the beast horde, which had been far more vicious then the last time, but they did not return.
Since then, the Leafblades experienced a great decline. Many quit, taking with them more than was due. His cousins had gone into hiding, begging him to leave with them, but Ken refused.
He had very little money, but if he was frugal and managed to cultivate diligently, he could return the family to its former glory.
“I will definitely bring back the name of our blessed family! Even if I must have a hundred children to make sure our line continues!” His cheeks burned red with embarrassment, but this was what he, the Young Patriarch of the family, needed to do.
Since it had come to this, he needed to at least spend some money on sincerity. After all, he still had that to do.
He dressed in his finest clothing. White, with a green hem and gold embroidery, and carried at his side his ancestral sword. It was long and thin, with the handle made of a foreign wood none could identify.
He bought a horse, a powerful and muscular horse, one befitting of a Young Patriarch of his family, and then rode towards the Town Lord’s estate. He trot along, like a prince on his trusty steed.
He rode up towards the gates of the estate, which was magnificent. It was the largest building within the town, and that was by law. The Lord of the towns and cities always had the largest building, and this one was five floors tall. The number of floors equalled the number of great families, including the Town Lord’s own family.
Leafblade. Silverhawk. Blackfist. Terraheart. Thunderlion.
These were the four great families, and the Town Lord’s family, which rules over the town and the nearby villages.
There were two statues of thunder lions which flanked the gate on either side, owing to the name sake of the family.
“Stop!” One of the statues began to shift and move, animating to life as it grew tall. They were the guardians of the Town Lord’s estate, each quite powerful. “Declare your intent!”
Ken hopped off his horse and then placed his palm over his fist, bowing respectfully. “My name is Ken, son of the Leafblade family. I have come to speak with the esteemed Town Lord, Fang Thunderlion, about the marriage proposal between myself and the Young Miss, Zarina Thunderlion.”
“This matter is unrecognised!”
“What?” Ken gasped. How could this be? “What do you mean? It’s no secret that we are promised to one another. Everyone in this town knows this. Allow me to speak with the Town Lord of this matter, there must be some kind of mistake!”
“There is no mistake. Zarina Thunderlion is to marry Abadon Terraheart. This has been set in stone for one year.”
[One year? Impossible!] Such a thing couldn’t have happened, since that was when his parents had died. How could the Town Lord have changed it then?
“There must be a mistake! I need to speak with the Town Lord!” His brow was covered in sweat. This was the first step in bringing back his family from ruin.
The Town Lord and his father had been the best of friends. One could have easily described them as brothers. Their families were so close that he often called the Town Lord his uncle in private, and when he was being a little cheeky, father.
How could Zarina marry Abadon? Abadon was a vicious beast, not worthy of even her presence. She was a fine jewel, and Abadon was a broken claw, an ill omen.
“How could she be betrothed to such a vile beast after what he did to Jana…” Ken muttered to himself. Jana had been a beautiful girl from the family of one of the Terraheart’s minor families, and Abadon had raped her and then hung her at their gates after she refused him politely.
“Who dares cause issues in front of the Town Lord’s estate?” It was a familiar voice which boomed, one which brought Ken comfort, though it was quite intimidating at the moment.
“This junior greets the Town Lord!” Ken called out, his hand over his palm again as he bowed.
The Town Lord appeared, dressed in his typical black robes, walking gracefully with his hands behind his back. The Town Lord was a gentleman among gentlemen. He had the dark blue hair of the Thunderlion family, though his brows were thick and flowed up angrily.
“Ah, it’s you.” The Town Lord raised a hand and his thunder lion statue fell back into place, still as though it was dead.
“Town Lord! I’ve come for the agreement, which the esteemed Town Lord has made with this one’s father.” He bowed once again. “In one week I am to turn eighteen, and we should join our families soon after.”
“…” The Town Lord looked at Ken sadly, sighing a heavy breath. All he could see was a young, naive little boy, one who had yet to be weaned from his mother’s teat.
[What a fool your son is, old friend.]
“Town Lord?”
“As much as I loved your father, like he was my own brother, I hope you understand.” Town Lord Fang Thunderlion shook his head. “Zarina will be unable to marry you.”
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
Zarina will be unable to marry you.
[What?]
Ken remained standing there, frozen like one of the Town Lord’s statues. He hadn’t expected to hear such a thing today. He had set out with complete faith that the Town Lord, the most noblest of men, would keep his word.
“Of course, such a matter is of great importance between our families.” The Town Lord spoke in an empathetic tone, understanding that the young boy would feel so terrible after hearing what he had said.
“I will compensate you for this matter.” He walked over and placed a hand on Ken’s shoulder. “I know it must be difficult for you, after all that’s happened.”
“Town Lord, you…” Ken was speechless, unable to even form words. He watched as the Town Lord walked away, back to his gate. How could he have done this. “You made a promise with my father. We… we grew up together. You were like an uncle to me, a second father even.”
“I understand that this must be difficult for you to hear, but you must understand that I am Zarina’s father. Your family is ruined. Your future is uncertain. What kind of father would I be if I allowed my daughter to marry you?”
Ken clenched his fists together, feeling the betrayal running through his veins. How could the Town Lord, such a man of great character, go back on his word like that?
“Zarina and I love one another! I promise to take good care of her as my wife! What is there beyond that?” Ken grit his teeth, keeping his tears at bay.
“You cannot accurately gauge your future. What are the Leafblades today? What are the Leafblades tomorrow?” Fang shook his head. “I will send you your compensation within the month.”
“Compensation? Zarina has no price! I ask that you behave nobly and honour the engagement of my now deceased father!” Ken pointed at him with an accusing finger. He still couldn’t believe what was happening.
The Town Lord glared back over his shoulder. “Enough! I ask that you give me face, Young Master. Leave at once whilst I am still polite!” The Town Lord’s voice boomed, and soon people began to notice.
“Shameful!” Ken exclaimed, feeling his gut wrench. How could the Town Lord just abandon him in his direst hour? “I will speak with Zarina about this matter!”
“Someone’s calling for you, my dear Zarina. Who could it be?” It was a familiarly sickening voice.
[That voice! It can’t be!]
Two people stepped out into view. One was the beautiful Zarina, a bright star which illuminated Ken’s life. She was a short woman, thin, and slightly tan from a healthy amount of sun. Her long hair was blue and silver, like thunder, and straight, falling down to her lower back.
Besides her was a vicious beast. A lean man with short, wild brown hair, brown eyes, and a savagely wide grin on his face. His arm was around Zarina’s waist possessively.
“Abadon!”
TW: Next chapter has NTR.
